Sly Bald Guys Forum

Various Non-Bald Discussions => General Discussion => Topic started by: Blagadan on January 26, 2007, 08:22:57 AM

Title: Military men (and women)
Post by: Blagadan on January 26, 2007, 08:22:57 AM
Just started thinking, there appears to be lots of military folk around these here parts.  A lot of people I have met from the US seem to have served at some stage.  Is it a big percentage of people do you think?  How long do you normally serve for and why?

Over here (Éire) it is different. When you join you join for life and generally it's looked down on as a profession i.e. it's for guys who generally won't be going to college

I served in the Reserves for 10 years ... would have been 16 years now if I didn't emigrate. But here the Reserves is just a fun thing to do at weekends, we don't have any operational duties.
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: Robmeister on January 26, 2007, 08:33:51 AM
The other military guys can elaborate much more accurately than I.  But serving the U.S. can be a career or just an awesome foundation to embark on one's adult life. (If I had it to do again, I'd have served in the Navy).

Correct me if I'm wrong Rob, AR3, etc..  but I think the minimum is 2 years service.  You can gain AWESOME training in all sorts of fields, get college credits, etc.   In my opinion, some of the most successful people in the U.S. started out their adulthood by serving the U.S. in some capacity.

How'd I do, Rob/AR3?
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: PigPen on January 26, 2007, 08:48:37 AM
If I had it to do over again, I would have joined the Army full-time after high school. Less than a year after high school, I tore the ACL in my left knee and couldn't even make it into the reserves. But as they say, everything happens for a reason.

I think minimum is two years, my wife's cousin was gonna re-up but decided not to. She'll be home from Germany in about three months or so.
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: Robmeister on January 26, 2007, 08:52:37 AM
...I would have joined the Army...

NAVY!!!    :x!
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: BaldRob on January 26, 2007, 09:01:13 AM
The other military guys can elaborate much more accurately than I.  But serving the U.S. can be a career or just an awesome foundation to embark on one's adult life. (If I had it to do again, I'd have served in the Navy).

Correct me if I'm wrong Rob, AR3, etc..  but I think the minimum is 2 years service.  You can gain AWESOME training in all sorts of fields, get college credits, etc.   In my opinion, some of the most successful people in the U.S. started out their adulthood by serving the U.S. in some capacity.

How'd I do, Rob/AR3?

You did OK!  I'm not sure, but I don't think that there are 2 years enlistments anymore.  I think the minimum is 4 years now...  However, when you enlist, you have a mandatory 10 year contract, which includes your active duty time and IRR (individual ready reserve) time.  If your active duty commitment is 4 years, then you have 6 years in the IRR.  You don't have to do weekend drills or anything, but you could be called up at any time during that remaining 6 years.  I did 12, so I didn't fall under that clause...

The biggest benenfit from my perspective is the experience that you gain... starting from boot camp and initial training, coupled with actual operational experience over the course of your career.  A LOT of employers love to hire ex-military for those reasons... plus typically, the work ethic of the military is great.  We're used to working long hours and have a "can-do" attitude!
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: PigPen on January 26, 2007, 09:30:15 AM
...I would have joined the Army...

NAVY!!!    :x!

ARMY!!! (family tradition)

 :x!   b!@h
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: Robmeister on January 26, 2007, 09:45:40 AM
...I would have joined the Army...

NAVY!!!    :x!

ARMY!!! (family tradition)

 :x!   b!@h

ok....Truce!

 B@^

Family tradition here too
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: schro on January 26, 2007, 09:50:22 AM
So Robmeister, am I to guess your family traditions are billiards and the bar???  :XX
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: Robmeister on January 26, 2007, 10:00:14 AM
So Robmeister, am I to guess your family traditions are billiards and the bar???  :XX

Good point, schro....and to some degree you're correct.

The billiard and bar scene were meant as a truce to Mr.Pen...

i.e. "let's bury the hatchet and find a pub, man"

I will say it was probably the shortest-lived dispute I've EVER had.....I'm glad it's over  ;)
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: schro on January 26, 2007, 10:04:50 AM
So Robmeister, am I to guess your family traditions are billiards and the bar???  :XX

Good point, schro....and to some degree you're correct.

The billiard and bar scene were meant as a truce to Mr.Pen...

i.e. let's bury the hatchet and find a pub, man

I will say it was one of the most short-lived disputes I've EVER had.....I'm glad it's over  ;)

Oh yeah? How about...

Subscriber to Whipped Magazine, "Honey, can I go out with the guys?"
Wife of Subscriber, "Did you wash the dishes?"

Silence.............
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: PigPen on January 26, 2007, 10:07:50 AM
So Robmeister, am I to guess your family traditions are billiards and the bar???  :XX

Good point, schro....and to some degree you're correct.

The billiard and bar scene were meant as a truce to Mr.Pen...

i.e. "let's bury the hatchet and find a pub, man"

I will say it was probably the shortest-lived dispute I've EVER had.....I'm glad it's over  ;)

Me too, I was gettin worried
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: Tyler on January 26, 2007, 11:47:38 AM
So, not that we're sitting around the bar chatting I'll give you my perspective on why people join the military.  B33r

I think people join the military for different reasons, but from what I can tell of my friends that have joined, there really is two main reasons.  The first being that they really want to serve their country and learn a lot in the process.  They often have family traditions that help this decision.  Some even cite the potential to travel the world on the governments dime.

The other set of people are those that didn't do well in school or don't feel college is the best route for them(either financially or acedemically; so instead they opt to go to the military and mature a bit and to get the government to pay for their college while they are at it.

Growing up in a very blue collar area these are the reasons that most of my friends went to the military, with the latter being the most prominant reason.
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: frostillicus123 on January 26, 2007, 11:50:51 AM
I applied for the canadian Miliarty in Jan of 02, I wanted to help after 9-11. However 4 days after I applied I blew out my ACL in a bar fight (I was and still am a bouncer). When I got it fixed I reapplied and they wouldn't touch me because it wasn't strong enough... Which I thought was complete BS, I have been in Judo and Jujitsu since and have gone in some rough matches. So now I'm trying to sever my country in another fashion, internally in Corrections.

If I could enter the military today i'd go
Navy only if I could go diver
Army Armoured Solider
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: Blagadan on January 26, 2007, 11:59:31 AM
Cool thanks for the replies guys.

If I could join it'd be army all the way, 2nd choice i'd like to fly helos.
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: schro on January 26, 2007, 12:11:34 PM
The head of our College's Accounting Department (my major) suggested I go into the military to gain discipline. Although I (now) consider myself a very disciplined person, I can look back and see how he could have made such a statement. Throughout college and even into my early career years, I was not very focused, despite the fact I was one of the top students in our department. In hindsight, I think I would have benefitted from time spent in the military and could have very well made it a career. Of course, I likely would have not met my wife and had two great kids, had I gone into the armed forces.

Life is full of "what ifs" and "if only I....". and that, children, concludes our life philosophy lesson for the day.

Professor Schro
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: ar3inc on January 27, 2007, 03:42:56 PM
...I would have joined the Army...

NAVY!!!    :x!

ARMY!!! (family tradition)

 :x!   b!@h

Navy    Army
 @K*   ;D
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: ar3inc on January 27, 2007, 03:45:48 PM
The other military guys can elaborate much more accurately than I.  But serving the U.S. can be a career or just an awesome foundation to embark on one's adult life. (If I had it to do again, I'd have served in the Navy).

Correct me if I'm wrong Rob, AR3, etc..  but I think the minimum is 2 years service.  You can gain AWESOME training in all sorts of fields, get college credits, etc.   In my opinion, some of the most successful people in the U.S. started out their adulthood by serving the U.S. in some capacity.

How'd I do, Rob/AR3?

You did OK!  I'm not sure, but I don't think that there are 2 years enlistments anymore.  I think the minimum is 4 years now...  However, when you enlist, you have a mandatory 10 year contract, which includes your active duty time and IRR (individual ready reserve) time.  If your active duty commitment is 4 years, then you have 6 years in the IRR.  You don't have to do weekend drills or anything, but you could be called up at any time during that remaining 6 years.  I did 12, so I didn't fall under that clause...

The biggest benenfit from my perspective is the experience that you gain... starting from boot camp and initial training, coupled with actual operational experience over the course of your career.  A LOT of employers love to hire ex-military for those reasons... plus typically, the work ethic of the military is great.  We're used to working long hours and have a "can-do" attitude!

I'm not in recurting so I'm not 100%, but I think the Army has a 6 year contract, 2 active and 4 IRR.  (there is no real benifits, like GI Bill or college $)
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: Tom McGarry. on January 27, 2007, 04:00:02 PM
Please permit me to say a real big heart felt THANK-YOU!!!! to all of you that are in any branch of the Armed Forces, as well as those of you in Law Enforcement and to all you Fire Fighters, you are all HEROS to me and my family.
Yes I am Canadian but my dad was from the U.S.A. and I wan't to move there in the near future. So THANK-YOU THANK-YOU THANK-YOU!!!! YR*(k YR*(k
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: ar3inc on January 27, 2007, 04:28:43 PM
Your welcome.  It's my pleasure.

Firefighters are true heros.
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: Robmeister on January 27, 2007, 05:30:01 PM
Please permit me to say a real big heart felt THANK-YOU!!!! to all of you that are in any branch of the Armed Forces, as well as those of you in Law Enforcement and to all you Fire Fighters, you are all HEROS to me and my family.
Yes I am Canadian but my dad was from the U.S.A. and I wan't to move there in the near future. So THANK-YOU THANK-YOU THANK-YOU!!!! YR*(k YR*(k

Here, Here!!    :popo
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: wpruitt on January 28, 2007, 05:24:55 AM
Please permit me to say a real big heart felt THANK-YOU!!!! to all of you that are in any branch of the Armed Forces, as well as those of you in Law Enforcement and to all you Fire Fighters, you are all HEROS to me and my family.
Yes I am Canadian but my dad was from the U.S.A. and I wan't to move there in the near future. So THANK-YOU THANK-YOU THANK-YOU!!!! YR*(k YR*(k
Truer words were never spoken
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: Tyler on January 28, 2007, 03:26:59 PM
Please permit me to say a real big heart felt THANK-YOU!!!! to all of you that are in any branch of the Armed Forces, as well as those of you in Law Enforcement and to all you Fire Fighters, you are all HEROS to me and my family.
Yes I am Canadian but my dad was from the U.S.A. and I wan't to move there in the near future. So THANK-YOU THANK-YOU THANK-YOU!!!! YR*(k YR*(k
Truer words were never spoken

I concur!
Title: Re: Military men (and women)
Post by: wpruitt on January 28, 2007, 07:05:38 PM
I've always had a special place in my heart for our fighting men and women.  My Dad and Uncle served in the Korean Campaign.  My Grandfather served in the Navy (1917-18) and Army (1918-19).  Heart damage incurred in the Navy, and compounded by his service at Meuse-Argonne shortened him life.  He had a great military story and inspired my appreciation of our military.